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Large Congregations

Large Church Resources

Stefan Jonasson, our previous Director for Large Congregations, assembled the below list of resources based on the calls and emails he received from leaders in large and midsize congregations seeking insights or information about the challenges faced by congregations of their size. These are the online resources he found to be most valuable, arranged by topic.

Governance

The Size and Shape of Governance (PDF)
My own brief introduction to the topic of congregational governance, which identifies five key components of governance and offers a thumbnail sketch of how governance changes as congregations grow in size.

Linking Governance and Emotional Systems
No governance model or organizational structure will be effective in the absence of a healthy emotional system in a congregation. This presentation at the 2007 General Assembly looked at the critical linkages between governance models and systems theory. This site includes links to the accompanying PowerPoint presentation and to relevant governance websites.

Staffing

Staffing the Large Congregation (PDF)
I’m often asked how much staff a congregation should employ and what their lines of accountability should be. Those are both good questions: an effective church staff requires adequate numbers, balance, clear lines of authority, and motivating leadership.

The Senior Minister as Chief of Staff (PDF)
It’s common for people to ask why it is that the senior minister should be chief of staff, barring some compelling reason for organizing the staff otherwise. Beyond being the most common model in a multi-staff congregation, designating the senior minister (or co-ministers) as chief of staff is grounded in the minister’s breadth of oversight and privilege of call.

Leadership Development

Leadership Development in the Large Congregation (PDF)
The quality of your congregation’s leadership can be enhanced—even fundamentally transformed—by reimagining the role of the nominating committee and broadening its purpose to make it a leadership development committee. Here’s one model for helping your committee transition to a new paradigm.

Lateral Relationships

The UUA's Largest Congregations (PDF)
Sometimes congregational leaders need to talk to their peers in other congregations, to explore common areas of concern or seek wisdom from more experienced colleagues. This list of the UUA’s largest congregations will help you identify congregations like yours. (Tip: Your best prospects usually involve congregations nearest to yours in size or location, so it’s generally best to focus your contacts on congregations most like your own.)